Kathryn "Kay" Wright

Kathryn “Kay” Wright passed away peacefully on February 2, 2025, at her home at McKenna Crossing, in Prior Lake.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Kay's honor at 12:30PM with a Time of Gathering from 11:30AM-12:30PM on Friday, February 7, 2025, all at McKenna Crossing, 13810 Shepherds Path NW, Prior Lake. 

Born in Wanamingo, Minnesota, on the Fourth of July in 1935, Kay was the second of two children of Arthur and Alice Anderson. She grew up in Wanamingo with her beloved brother Maurice, and graduated from Wanamingo High School in 1953. She was a keen attendee of class reunions even into her eighties.

She graduated from the General Hospital School of Nursing, and began working as a surgical nurse at General Hospital, a career that would bring immense satisfaction to her throughout much of her life.

She met her future husband, Dennis “Denny” Wright on a blind date in 1957. They married in 1958 and celebrated 61 anniversaries. They raised four children, Mark, Elizabeth, Laurel and Kimberlee in New Brighton, Minnesota. In addition to caring for her family, tending a large vegetable and flower garden, and singing in the choir at St. Philips Lutheran Church. Kay worked in the operating room at Unity Hospital in Fridley, Minnesota, and delighted in sharing with her family stories from her interesting and fulfilling work.

In the mid-1980s, having raised their family, Kay and Denny moved to Prior Lake, Minnesota to enjoy life on the lake. Kay was invited to manage the nursing staff of ENT Professional Associates in Minneapolis, which she did until her retirement in 2000. They joined Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church where Kay continued to sing in the choir and engaged in numerous projects as a volunteer. Denny and Kay eventually moved to McKenna Crossing in Prior Lake where they made many new friends.

In retirement, Denny and Kay loved to travel, visiting much of the United States and taking trips to Europe, South America and many Caribbean islands. They continued to be active in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives.

Kay will be forever loved and deeply missed by daughters Elizabeth Wright, Laurel (Glenn McCabe) Wright, and Kimberlee Wright; daughter-in-law, Karen Wright; grandchildren Jack McCabe and Benjamin McCabe; and other relatives and friends.

Kay rejoins her husband Denny and her son Mark in heaven.

Thank you to all of the people at McKenna Crossing who were so kind to Kay and, especially the wonderful staff in the Hearth and Optage Hospice, who provided such attentive and expert care in her final months.